Being 18 can be overwhelming. It’s the end of being a teenager, the end of high school, and at many times, it feels like it’s the end of the world. The hard decisions that come with the age, like what college you’ll go to and if you’ll be moving out of the home you grew up in, can make you forget that this isn’t the end: it’s a new and exciting beginning. This is what I was feeling, up until attending the June 14th CHAPTERS Reading for Girls Write Now.
Speaker Marcia Ann Gillespie put everything in perspective again with her empowering girl talk and funny but truthful writing advice. “When writing,” she said, “it’s best to have girlfriends who tell you what you don’t want to hear.” The tidbits and tales she shared from her personal life were nothing less than inspiring. She wasn’t the only person to help me regain my hope; every single mentee and mentor that read on stage reminded me that even though the Earth is constantly spinning in space, I’m never going to fall off it. Nothing feels more freeing than getting up in front of a crowd of strangers and reading your own piece of writing — especially when it’s your last time.
But what this CHAPTERS taught me is that there is no last time. I will continue reading my work, I will continue working with Girls Write Now, and I will continue to be in touch with the people I grew up with in high school. This isn’t the final chapter — with Girls Write Now or in my life — it’s the start of a new one.
- Christina will be moving on to SUNY Purchase in the fall, after two years with her mentor Amy. We can’t wait to see how she’ll wow the world next! Congrats Christina!
